Baker on British roses. 15 



unusually full and complete, it is impossible for those who have only- 

 books to rely upon to name the species they gather. So that I have 

 considered that to attempt to describe our species, and especially to attempt 

 to ascertain the range of their variations in character, would not be an 

 unprofitable task. I intend as I proceed to deviate from this local limi- 

 tation to make any comments that suggest themselves, respecting 

 the synonymy, alliances, and distribution of the British species. With 

 regard to synonymy I am under special obligations to M. Deseglise, who 

 has not only given me his opinion upon a collection of all the British 

 forms which I was able to send him, but has also furnished me with 

 authentic specimens of most of the species described in his book. And 

 of other continental Botanists I have to thank M. Boreau for authen- 

 ticated specimens of many of the Eoses of his " Flore du Centre," Dr. 

 Fauconnet for examples of many of the Swiss sj)ecies, and Professor Crepin 

 for Belgian specimens, and copious notes on what I sent him from this 

 country. 



Passing the alien CinnamonecB we come first to the Spinosissimce, all 

 comparatively low bushes, plentifully stoloniferous, with erect or slightly 

 arching stems and short compact branches, typically subglobose fruit, and 

 truly persistent sepals, but best characterised amongst the free-styled 

 roses by the decided inequality of their usually crowded prickles, which 

 pass from their full development down to minute aciculi by gradual 

 stages of transition, and by the, at least occasional occurrence of setae on 

 the well-matured stems. 



I. — R. spiNOSissiMA. Linn. In exposed places an erect shrub, with 

 main stems one to four feet high, and short, rigid, compact, spreading, 

 branches, creeping extensively, and forming a colony where it is allowed 

 to grow unmolested ; in shade sometimes with csespitose arching stems 

 and looser and longer branches. Shoots densely beset with prickles, which 

 pass by gradual stages of transition into aciculi and setae. Largest prickles 

 of the mature stems with bases about three-sixteenths of an inch deep, the 

 prickle upwards of a quarter of an inch long, narrowed suddenly from the 

 base to a slightly compressed needle, the uj)per line hardly at all curved. 

 Well developed leaves not much over two inches from the base to the apex of 

 the terminal leaflet. Leaflets rigid in texture, roundish or oval, in small 

 specimens not more than one-eighth of an inch long, by less wide, in 

 larger specimens three-quarters of an inch long by half an inch wide, 

 simply serrated or with an occasional accessory tooth, lower serratui'es 



